Search

Spectra of mixed H/D water dimers are studied in the mid-infrared region of the O–D stretch fundamental (2630–2800 cm−1) using a pulsed supersonic slit jet and a tunable optical parametric oscillator infrared source. Over 30 bands, belonging to nine of the ten possible isotopologues (only H2O–HOD is missed), are observed and analyzed. The implications for excited state tunneling splittings, lifetime effects, and vibrational shifts are discussed. These are the first significant new experimental results on (gas phase) mixed water dimers in over 25 years, and they are valuable for testing water dimer theoretical calculations, a field which continues to be of lively current interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurial action often stems from individual judgment about the value potential of market opportunities. Where entrepreneurs direct their search for and evaluate profitable opportunities has long received scholarly consideration. Attention has been increasingly directed toward how search is conducted, with a distinction between "cognitive" search, where actors are driven by a prior belief about the linkage between actions and outcomes (i.e. "learning- before -doing") and "experiential search," in which the solution must be realized through experimentation, trial-by-error, or "learning- by -doing." We examine founders' experiential search for market applications in uncertain technological environments. In doing so, we seek to uncover how founder background, experience, and depth of knowledge affect the firm's degree of experiential search. We examine a sample of technology-oriented start-ups founded by researchers from six major US research universities to investigate the role of experiential search in university technology commercialization. In our context of academic entrepreneurship, we find that founding teams that draw from multiple disciplinary perspectives in selecting a market application to pursue exhibit a broader cognitive map of the technological landscape and thus expend more effort in the experiential search process than do teams with less varied backgrounds. Conversely, teams that include individuals with prior commercial experience conduct less experiential search, although this evidence is less strong. The inclusion of students appears to lead to greater experiential search by the founding team. Our findings add new understanding to the application of search heuristics by entrepreneurial firms in technology commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the light of the instability of trihalomethanes (THMs) in water, a fast and high accuracy method based on headspace gas chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (HS-GC-IDMS) technique was developed. The optimised method was validated using fortified water samples. Recoveries between 96.1% and 108.8% with an intermediate precision between 3.9% and 5.7% were achieved. The method was applied in the value assignment of THMs in water in an accuracy-based proficiency testing (PT) programme organised by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) Singapore. The assigned values obtained for chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform were 73.6 ± 9.3 µg/L, 49.1 ± 5.2 µg/L, 47.7 ± 4.4 µg/L and 70.8 ± 6.8 µg/L, respectively. The PT programme was especially valuable and uncommon as it allowed local water testing laboratories to have access to traceable reference values for the benchmarking of their technical competencies. The procedure undertaken by the Laboratory to prepare a batch of PT sample comprising the unstable analytes, conduct homogeneity and stability testing, as well as value assignment, are presented. The between-samples relative standard deviations (RSDs) obtained in a feasibility batch of THMs concentrate in methanol were improved by four to six times compared to those from the first feasibility batch of THMs in water. Based on z-scores, evaluated using the assigned reference value determined by HS-GC-IDMS, 85% of the participating laboratories in the PT programme achieved satisfactory results. The provision of metrological assigned values heightened the testing laboratories' awareness on the importance of accuracy-based PT programmes for evaluation of true method biases, which is particularly valuable for analytes with regulated limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our research described here, a strong acid oxidizing agent was selected to modify the surface of carbon black (CB) to obtain oxidized carbon black (OCB) particles. These OCB particles were then subjected to an ionic bonding reaction with alkaline amine groups present on the surface of octadecylamine polyoxyethylene ether (AC1830) in the form of a paste, resulting in the production of polyether amine-modified oxidized carbon black particles (A-CB). FTIR confirmed the successful production of the A-CB particles. The PVA composite films were prepared using the casting method with varying amounts of A-CB as filler and PVA as the matrix. The films were then analyzed using tensile, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic thermo-mechanical analysis, DSC, and water absorption testing. The results showed that the tensile strength was highest at 3% A-CB, reaching 154.85 MPa. A-CB was well dispersed in PVA at low contents (1% and 3%). The loss modulus, energy storage modulus, crystallinity, and crystallization rate of the A-CB/PVA films improved compared to PVA films. Additionally, the issue of excessive water absorption in A-CB/PVA has been improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In present decade, because of fast growth of industries and rapid urbanization, the quality of natural water resources is deteriorated in higher rates, results in harmful and life-threatening diseases. Hence, there is a significant requirement in models for Water Quality Test and Analysis, which is time and cost effective. With that note, this research develops a novel model called Water Quality Evaluation and Monitoring Model (WQEM) that utilizes machine learning and Internet of Things (IOT) technique for performing water quality test. Moreover, Water Quality Index is estimated for providing the basic water qualities and based on that Quality Classification is also performed with the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) based classification model. This work mainly focuses on the water fluoride content other factors such as Dissolved Oxygen, Total Dissolved Solids and pH. The experimentation is carried out using Raspberry Pi3 test kit and WEKA tool using the real-time data. The evaluation results evidence that the proposed model produces higher rate of classification results with minima Mean Absolute Error (MAE) than other compared water quality test models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Swallowing function in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) is often assessed pre‐treatment, during and at intervals post‐treatment to identify those with dysphagia as early as possible. This study aims to investigate the minimal clinical important difference (MCID) for the 100 mL water swallow test (100 mL WST) to increase its utility in clinical practice and in clinical trials. Methods: Data from 211 HNC patients, treated by either single or combined modality were included. Patients completed both the 100 mL WST and M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) at baseline (i.e., prior to treatment) and 12 months post‐treatment. The MCID for the 100 mL WST was calculated using two approaches of the anchor‐based method (using the MDADI), including mean change, and ROC curve. Additionally, the distribution‐based method was used utilizing the half standard deviation approach. Results: In the anchor‐based method, a 4 mL/s in the 100 mL WST was defined as an MCID for deterioration, with a sensitivity of 75% and a 1‐specificity of 46%. In contrast, a change of 5 mL/s was deemed as an MCID for improvement, based on the distribution‐based method. Conclusion: The findings showed that deterioration of 4 mL, or an increase of 5 mL from baseline to 12 months post‐HNC treatment equates to an MCID from the patients' perspective. Based on these findings, it may be beneficial to increase the utilization of the 100 mL WST in clinical practice to observe the changes, and in clinical trials to interpret and compare different study arms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Together with other "bottom‐up" methods, climate stress testing is becoming a prominent approach for climate change impact assessment of water systems. Compared with traditional approaches, stress testing is: (i) more focused on exploring the vulnerabilities of the system at hand; (ii) potentially more inclusive, being amenable to stakeholder involvement and (iii) well suited to identify robust policy options that better account for the deep uncertainty associated with multiple plausible futures. Stress testing is rapidly evolving and giving rise to new techniques and concepts, but few articles provide an accessible overview that can serve as an introduction to the field. Here, we review the underlying principles and concepts of climate stress testing, providing a guide to the main decisions involved in practical application. Topics include selection of stressors, characterizing and exploring the exposure space and data generation including the use of stochastic data. In a complex world where water decisions are made in the context of wider socio‐ecological systems, stress testing and other bottom‐up methods can support decisions that are not only robust to future uncertainty but also regarded as legitimate by affected communities. This article is categorized under:Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of WaterScience of Water > Water and Environmental ChangeWater and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydraulic conductivity of aquitard is difficult to assess, yet its accurate determination is critical to understanding the hydraulic connections of a multi-layered aquifer system. A new method called the single-well water injection test is proposed for estimating the hydraulic conductivity of an aquitard in a multi-layered aquifer system. Considering the influence of the overlying and the underlying aquifers, the stable well flow formula was deduced according to the water injection test using a mirror-image method. Also, the method was applied in a field test in Nantong City, China. The calculated hydraulic conductivity of the aquitard was consistent with results of the laboratory and field tests, which illustrates the correctness and engineering applicability of the proposed method. The proposed method is simple and easy to implement, and field examples demonstrate the potential applications of the proposed method in determining the hydraulic conductivity of aquitards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Swallowing disorders are highly interrelated with increased morbidity and mortality rates; therefore, early detection is crucial. Most screening tools rely on subjective observation, thus making objective assessment tools more vital. Timed Water Swallowing Test (TWST) is a screening tool used in the field providing quantitative data. This study aimed to investigate the swallowing parameters in a wide age range by using TWST and to expand the already existing normative data pool accordingly. It is also aimed to examine the reliability of the TWST and assess its validity in stroke survivors. Materials and methods: This study had a cross-sectional design. TWST carried out simultaneously along with surface EMG and laryngeal sensor on 196 healthy subjects aged 10 to 80 for normative data. Also, TWST carried out 30 patients having a history of recent stroke. Test-retest and inter-rater scoring analysis were used for reliability purposes, while Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) test was used for validity purposes. Additionally, the correlations between the participants' TWST scores and GUSS scores were examined using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: The normative TWST data of healthy participants are tabulated and presented and their average swallowing capacity was found 13.73 ml/s. Furthermore, the mean swallowing capacity of stroke survivors was found 4.61 ml/s. As a result of validity analyses, a statistically strong and significant relationship was found between GUSS and TWST parameters (r = 0.775, p < 0.001). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and correlation values were found between moderate to good agreement between test-retest measurement (ICC = 0.563 to 0.891, p < 0.05). Also, the agreement between the raters was found to be significant (ICC = 0.949 to 0.995, p < 0.05). Conclusion: TWST is a valid and reliable screening tool to evaluate dysphagia on given population. Although the test's performance on healthy individuals is adequate, more research is still needed to confirm that it can be used as a screening tool for stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As patients nowadays tend to have multiple diseases and complex medical histories, our aim was to identify high‐quality, non‐instrumental dysphagia screening tools used for the detection of adult dysphagia cases in all disease categories in acute‐care settings. Method: A literature search was conducted in five databases from each database's earliest inception to 31 July 2021 and guided by five keywords: 'dysphagia', 'deglutition', 'screening', 'test' and 'measure'. Without limiting the search in any specific disease category, reviewers assessed original studies and identified tools if they had been validated against instrumental evaluations and if they had been designed as a pass–fail procedure to screen whether dysphagia is absent or present. We further excluded any tool if it was (1) for pediatric focus, or (2) a patient self‐report questionnaire. All final tool candidates underwent a methodological quality appraisal using the Revised Tool for the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS‐2). Result: Out of 195 studies with 165 tools identified, 20 tool candidates underwent QUADAS‐2 review. We found six high‐quality, non‐instrumental screening tools for detecting adult dysphagia cases in acute‐care settings, including the Yale Swallow Protocol, Gugging Swallowing Screen, Toronto Bedside Swallowing Screening Test (both English and Portuguese versions), Sapienza Global Bedside Evaluation of Swallowing and Two‐Step Thickened Water Test. These high‐quality tools were developed primarily for patients with stroke. Only Yale Swallow Protocol was originally tested for heterogeneous populations with stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, oesophageal surgery, neurosurgery and head‐and‐neck cancer. Conclusions: The results highlight the gap in the unavailability of high‐quality dysphagia screening tool in several emerged high‐risk populations including elderly inpatients, or patients following endotracheal extubation. Further research is needed to determine whether these six tools can be effectively applied across different high‐risk populations in acute‐care settings to screen for cases finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica gel‐modified hydratable magnesium carboxylate (HMC) is used as the binder for refractory castables. The mechanical strength and thermal shock resistance of HMC bonded and silica gel‐modified HMC‐bonded castables were compared. When the HMC/silica gel mass ratio is 2, the cold modulus of rupture, the hot modulus of rupture, the residual strength ratio after three‐times water quenching tests, and the matrix‐specific fracture energy of the castables were increased by 300%, 124%, 44.7%, and 132%, respectively, compared with HMC‐bonded castables. The characterization of microstructure evolution of silica gel‐modified HMC‐bonded castables indicated that a small amount of liquid phase generated is conducive to improving the high‐temperature mechanical properties. The in situ alumina‐rich spinel and needle‐like mullite toughened the matrix and enhanced the thermal shock resistance of the castables by "microcrack generation" and "preventing crack propagation" mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Catalysts composed of nanocluster and single-atom (SA) were extensively used to enhance electrocatalytic water splitting performance, whereas study of their photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2) evolution activity was limited. Herein, carbon nitride (CN) decorated by ruthenium (Ru) cocatalysts existed as SA + cluster, cluster + nanoparticles (NPs), and NPs were prepared by impregnation and calcination processes. The correlation between existential form, content of Ru cocatalyst and H 2 evolution rate were carefully discussed. It was found that Ru NPs were favor for water molecule adsorption, whereas Ru SAs and clusters facilitated H 2 desorption. Theoretical calculations revealed that Ru clusters + NPs cocatalyst were beneficial for H* intermediate formation. Water splitting tests found that 1.07 wt% Ru NPs + cluster modified CN showed the highest H 2 evolution rate of 13.64 mmol h−1 g−1, which was 266.4 and 1.5 times higher than those of CN and Ru NPs (2.33 wt%) decorated CN, respectively. This work deeply reveals the influences of existential form of Ru cocatalysts on photocatalytic water splitting of CN, and provides thought in designing new cocatalysts to largely enhance H 2 evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relative permeability modifier (RPMs) is a water control technique that is implemented for enhancing gas recovery rates and prolonging well productive life during fracturing the tight gas reservoir. RPMs filtrate into formation for a certain depth along with the fracturing fluid to control water output by a "drag" effect on water phase only. To optimize RPM treatment, both experimental investigation and numerical simulation are used in this paper. In laboratory, transient core-flooding tests were conducted to investigate the water control performance of newly formulated polymer (RPM). The relative permeability of gas was corrected due to gas volume changes during displacement. The results showed that the selective water control effect of RPM by reducing water relative permeability dramatically with little impact on gas relative permeability. The RPM concentration was optimized as 0.01 %XSJ-14(A)+0.05 %XSJ-14(B) while injection volume as 5PV by comparison of relative permeability curves. A 2D fracture model of a tight gas model was built to compare the production before and after RPM treatment. The results of numerical simulation confirmed the different flow control effect of RPM on water and gas. A sensitivity analysis was conducted for the effect of fracture length, fracture conductivity, RPM filtration and RR value. The results indicate that there are limits of all the factor on RPM's water control performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study investigated the intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuation as assessed by the water drinking test (WDT) in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients after combined cataract surgery with iStent implantation. Methods: This was a prospective non-randomized comparative study. Eyes with OAG and cataracts that were planned for either combined phacoemulsification and iStent implantation (iStent+CS) or phacoemulsification alone (CS) were recruited. The iStent inject (Model G2-M-IS) or iStent injectW (Model G2-W) trabecular micro-bypass stent (Glaukos Corporation, San Clemente, CA, USA) was implanted in the iStent+CS group. WDT was performed before and 3 months after surgery. WDT-IOP parameters including peak IOP, IOP fluctuation, and area under the curve (AUC) were compared between the two groups. Results: There were 20 eyes in the iStent+CS group and 16 eyes in the CS group. Both groups had similar pre-operative baseline IOP (15.6 ± 3.7 mm Hg vs. 15.8 ± 1.8 mm Hg in the iStent+CS and CS group, respectively, p = 0.883). The iStent+CS group experienced greater numerical reduction in peak IOP (2.6 ± 1.9 mm Hg vs. 1.9 ± 2.4 mm Hg; p = 0.355), IOP fluctuation (1.7 ± 2.2 mm Hg vs. 0.8 ± 2.5 mm Hg; p = 0.289), and AUC (54.8 ± 103.6 mm Hg × minute vs. 25.3 ± 79.0 mm Hg × minute; p = 0.355) than the CS group. There was more reduction in the number of anti-glaucoma medications in the iStent+CS group (1.4 ± 1.2) than the CS group (0.3 ± 0.9; p = 0.005). Conclusion: Both combined phacoemulsification with iStent inject implantation and phacoemulsification alone reduced peak IOP, IOP fluctuation, and AUC, and none of these parameters showed statistically significant difference. Greater reduction in anti-glaucoma medications was seen in the combined group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water richness evaluation of coal seam roofs is a crucial prerequisite for preventing and controlling water hazards in coal seam roofs. For this purpose, Spearman correlation and GeoDetector were employed for factor optimization to investigate the significance of lithological and structural factors and the impact of interactions among different factors on the water richness of coal seam roofs. Water richness evaluation models of coal seam roofs were separately established via the entropy weight method (EWM), coefficient of variation method (CVM), and random forest method (RFM), and the predictive accuracies of these models were compared. Eleven lithological and structural factors were collected. Through Spearman correlation analysis, 6 factors were identified to have significant influences on water richness. By utilizing the interaction detection of GeoDetector, the effects of interfactor interactions on water richness were explored, and 3 combination factors were selected. AICc was used to determine the model's superiority. The evaluation results of the study area based on factor optimization and three methods were further compared and validated via pumping tests, workface water inflow tests, and three-dimensional high-density electrical method. The results indicated that the RFM exhibited higher prediction accuracy than did the entropy weight and coefficient of variation methods. Additionally, within each method, factor optimization led to improved model accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatase type TiO 2 has garnered significant attention due to its potent oxidation capacity, stability, photoinduced superhydrophilicity and self-cleaning performance. However, there are few reports on the preparation of robust TiO 2 films on substrates with a low glass transition temperature. In this work, SiO 2 /TiO 2 films were fabricated on PE substrates using a simple dip-coating technique. The coated PE films exhibited a maximum transmittance of 86 % and an average transmittance of 85 % in the visible region. The composite films demonstrated remarkable photoinduced superhydrophilicity, antifogging characteristics, and excellent photocatalytic performance. The film showed superhydrophilicity under UV light or xenon lamp illumination, and remained superhydrophilicity after it was placed outdoors for 310 days. In addition, the prepared films also had excellent mechanical properties, and their superhydrophilicity remained unaffected even after 200 cycles of bending, 80 cycles of rolling, and 50 mL water impact test. The preparation method may open a new avenue to the application of TiO 2 films on many substrates that are vulnerable to high temperature processes. [Display omitted] • In this work, SiO 2 /TiO 2 films were fabricated on PE substrates using a simple dip-coating technique. • The composite films demonstrated remarkable photoinduced superhydrophilicity, antifogging characteristics, and excellent photocatalytic performance. • The prepared films also had excellent mechanical properties, and their superhydrophilicity remained unaffected even after 200 cycles of bending, 80 cycles of rolling, and 50 mL water impact test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT A novel salamo‐Co (II) coordination polymer probe CP was synthesized firstly, and its crystal structure, [Co3(L)2(PTA)(H2O)2]n·4nDMF, was determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The probe has a rare aggregation‐induced luminescence enhancement (AIEE) effect. When applied to amino acid detection, it was found to have a high selective recognition of tyrosine. With the increase of tyrosine, the fluorescent strength of the probe was enhanced in a short period of time. In addition, the binding ratio of probe to Tyr was determined by fluorescence titration experiment, and the detection limit LOD of probe CP for Tyr was calculated to be 2.57 × 10−9 M, and the binding constant Ka was 2.96 × 105 M−1. According to UV absorption spectrum, FT‐IR spectra, ESI mass spectrometry, and DFT calculation, it was speculated that Tyr can bind to the probe after adding Tyr into the probe solution, triggering FRET and ICT effects, resulting in increased fluorescence intensity and blue shift, and finally achieving the specific recognition of tyrosine by probe CP. Finally, the practical application of probe CP was studied. Through strip test and real water sample test, it was found that the probe can be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of tyrosine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding impacts of gas breakthrough processes on the sealing ability of the bentonite buffer/backfill materials is crucial for the safety evaluation of the nuclear waste geological repository. In this work, the residual capillary pressure method was utilized to conduct successive gas breakthrough tests on compacted Gaomiaozi bentonite specimens. During each gas breakthrough test, the upstream gas pressure was increased in a step-by-step way until the gas breakthrough was recorded. Water permeability tests were performed before each gas breakthrough to ensure that the bentonite specimen was fully saturated. Finally, after experienced five successive gas breakthrough processes, the bentonite specimen was submitted for the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) test. For comparison, four other parallel specimens that experienced one to four gas breakthroughs, respectively, were also submitted for the MIP tests to examine the possible damage of the bentonite matrix resulted from gas breakthrough processes. Results show that, during the first three successive gas breakthrough tests, the gas breakthrough pressure and the snap-off pressure decreased rapidly from 4.46 to 3.66 MPa and from 0.51 to 0.26 MPa, respectively. An exponential decrease in the maximum effective gas permeability from 3.75 × 10–18 to 3.17 × 10–19 m2 with gas breakthroughs experienced could also be observed. On contrary, both of the saturated water permeability and the pore size distribution show little difference as compared to its initial value. These results indicate that gas breakthrough process could induce a degradation of gas-tightness capacity of the bentonite specimen. Meanwhile, the gas injection pressure was reset to zero before conducting the water permeability test. Reducing the gas pressure will induce a contraction in the radius of the gas pathway, even leading to complete closure. Consequently, the water permeability and the pore size distribution remained almost unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In September 2021, eight campylobacteriosis cases were identified in a town in Nebraska, USA. We assessed potential exposures for a case–control analysis. We conducted whole-genome sequencing on Campylobacter isolates from patients’ stool specimens. We collected large-volume dead-end ultrafiltration water samples for Campylobacter and microbial source tracking testing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We identified 64 cases in 2 waves of illnesses. Untreated municipal tap water consumption was strongly associated with illness (wave 1 odds ratio 15.36; wave 2 odds ratio 16.11). Whole-genome sequencing of 12 isolates identified 2 distinct Campylobacter jejuni subtypes (1 subtype/wave). The town began water chlorination, after which water testing detected coliforms. One dead-end ultrafiltration sample yielded nonculturable Campylobacter and avian-specific fecal rRNA genomic material. Our investigation implicated contaminated, untreated, municipal water as the source. Results of microbial source tracking supported mitigation with continued water chlorination. No further campylobacteriosis cases attributable to water were reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to now, only limited data are available on the influence of process-related variables [influent characteristics, solids retention time (SRT), hydraulic retention time (HRT), biomass recirculation rates, process configuration, biochemical reaction rates, etc.] on oxygen transfer, as stated in the aeration manuals. Recently, standards have been updated in regard to oxygen transfer testing in clean water as well as in in-process wastewater. Unfortunately, the situation has not improved since the publication of these documents. In particular, little information exists on alpha (α) and oxygen transfer efficiency (OTE)f in biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes to study the impact of biochemical reactions on oxygen transfer under controlled process conditions. A new model is herewith proposed that would deal with the effect of oxygen consumption rate due to these substrate materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, glass fiber and flax fiber reinforced with epoxy and ZnO nanofiller were used to create composites utilizing the hand layup method. The purpose of this study is to develop a novel hybrid polymer‐matrix composite that can be employed in various application areas such as aerospace, sports, medical equipment, railways, etc. The fabricated composite was made with epoxy as a matrix material reinforced with nano‐ZnO, glass fiber, and flax fiber. Six fiber layers with varying fiber orientations were inserted into the matrix in a specific stacking order. The results show the maximum tensile, flexural, impact, and ILSS as the values of 264.74 MPa, 492.12 MPa, 595.72 J/m, and 50.05, respectively. Along with the mechanical properties, Physical characterization such as density, void content, thickness swelling, moisture content, and water absorption tests were conducted. FE‐SEM test was conducted to check the uniformity of nanoparticles in the matrix material and the breakdown of fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigate the water capture process for functionalized carbon nanocones (CNCs) through molecular dynamic simulations in the following three scenarios: a single CNC in contact with a reservoir containing liquid water, a single CNC in contact with a water vapor reservoir, and a combination of more than one CNC in contact with vapor. We found that water flows through the nanocones when in contact with the liquid reservoir if the nanocone tip presents hydrophilic functionalization. In contact with steam, we observed the formation of droplets at the base of the nanocone only when hydrophilic functionalization is present. Then, water flows through in a linear manner, a process that is more efficient than that in the liquid reservoir regime. The scalability of the process is tested by analyzing the water flow through more than one nanocone. The results suggest that the distance between the nanocones is a fundamental ingredient for the efficiency of water harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to identify the psychosocial influences on the practice of well stewardship behaviors (water testing, water treatment, and well maintenance) in rural Georgia, USA. Three interventions (education, the provision of household water treatment systems [HWTS], and both education and HWTS) were evaluated using a four-group, randomized controlled trial. A total of 64 private well owners completed a pretest measuring psychosocial factors and stewardship behaviors before receiving an intervention. Following a 104-day waiting period, participants completed a posttest and interviews were conducted to identify the barriers and facilitators to use (S1 File). Pretest results showed that 34% of well owners have ever tested their water and that only 25% treat their water before consumption. The education-only intervention showed no influence on stewardship behaviors, resulted in no new water tests and had no impact on psychosocial factors. The HWTS-only intervention had no significant effect on testing and treatment behaviors, though it had a significant effect on abilities (R2 =.87, p< 0.05) and self-regulation (R2 = 1.0, p<0.01). The intervention of both education and HWTS had no effect on testing and no significant effect on treatment behaviors, though had a significant effect on abilities (R2 =.84, p<0.05) and self-regulation (R2 =.93, p<0.05). This study identified three barriers to the use of HWTS: beliefs, knowledge, and functionality. Two factors (piece of mind and ease of use) were identified as facilitators to the use of HWTS. The results of this study indicate that providing water treatment systems does not guarantee use and that current educational efforts provided by state and local health departments may be ineffective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address solubility, plasticizer leakage, and ionic carrier issues in PVC-based solid ion-selective electrodes, a novel plasticizer-free photocurable solid Ca2+-selective electrode (GC/PANI/CPANI/Ca2+(PBA)-ISE) was developed using a novel electrode structure. A new Ca2+-sensitive membrane based on poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) was synthesized by ultraviolet polymerization, with conductive polyaniline (PANI) as the solid contact layer and a copolymer of aniline and 2,5-dimethoxyaniline (CPANI) as the coating. All potential electrochemical tests were carried out on the prepared Ca2+-selective electrode. The response slope of the electrode was 28.33 mV decade−1, the detection limit was 6.9 × 10−6 M, the stable linear range was 1 × 10−6 to 1 × 10−2 M, and it had a good Nernst response. The chronopotentiometric analysis and water layer tests showed that the potential drift of GC/PANI/CPANI/Ca2+(PBA)-ISE was as low as 0.0125 mV s−1 and 1.247 mV h−1. In addition, the interference tests of environmental factors were carried out. When the electrode was in different interference light and gas environments, the potential changes of 1.6 × 10−4 mV s−1 and 1.2 × 10−3 mV s−1 were observed. Compared with previous reports and commercial electrodes, the prepared GC/PANI/CPANI/Ca2+(PBA)-ISE showed good electrochemical performance, and the recovery rate in Ca2+ test solutions was higher (97.2–99.9%). This study provided theoretical insights to address solubility, plasticizer leakage, and ion carrier leakage issues in solid-state contact ion-selective electrodes. At the same time, this study provided a new structure and preparation method for the preparation of all-solid-state Ca2+-selective electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the strength characteristics of red clay stabilized by a high dosage of phosphogypsum, a mix proportion design was carried out at the ratio of phosphogypsum:red clay = 1:0.5, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, and 1:5 using 4%, 6%, and 8% cement as a curing agent, and this study was carried out through the unconfined compressive strength test, water stability test, California bearing ratio (CBR) test, and durability test. As the phosphogypsum content increases, the unconfined compressive strength of the mix shows a trend of increasing and then decreasing, the unconfined compressive strength of the mixture is the largest when the ratio is 1:3, and with the increase in the number of dry and wet cycles, the unconfined compressive strength of the mixture decreases, and the decay is the largest at 2–3 dry and wet cycles. The higher the phosphogypsum content, the better the water stability performance of the mix. In addition, the CBR value of the mixture can meet the requirements of freeway, primary highway, secondary highway bed, and embankment filler bearing ratio. In this paper, a mix durability test method is proposed to express the mix durability performance in terms of mass loss rate and durability coefficient; the mass loss rate of the mix increases with the increase in the number of wet and dry cycles, and the durability coefficient decreases with the increase in the number of wet and dry cycles; the higher the content of phosphogypsum, the better the durability performance of the mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical migration (ECM) on the surface of printed circuit boards (PCBs) continues to pose a significant reliability risk in electronics. Nevertheless, the existing literature lacks studies that address the solder mask and solder pad design aspects in the context of ECM. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the impact of solder mask type with varying roughness and solder pad design on the susceptibility to ECM using a water drop test and thermal humidity bias test. Hot air solder leveling-coated PCBs were tested. Furthermore, the ECM tests were conducted on PCBs with applied no-clean solder paste to evaluate the influence of flux residues on the resulting ECM behavior. The results indicated that the higher roughness of the solder mask significantly contributes to ECM inhibition through the creation of a mechanical barrier for the dendrites. Furthermore, lower ECM susceptibility was also observed for copper-defined pads, where a similar effect is presumed. However, the influence of the no-clean flux residues can prevail over the effects of the solder mask. Therefore, the use of a rough solder mask and a copper-defined pad design is recommended if the PCB is to be washed from flux residues after the soldering process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoassays based on reactions between target pathogen (antigen; Ag) and antibody (Ab) are frequently used for Ag detection. An external magnetic field was used to immobilize magnetic microbeads-tagged-antibodies (mMB-Ab) on the surface of a microchannel in the capture zone. The mMB-Ab was subsequently used for Ag detection. The objective of this numerical study, with experimental validation, is to assess the surface reaction between mMB-Ab and Ag in the presence of electro-osmotic flow (EOF). First, immobilization of mMB-Ab complex in the wall of the capture zone was achieved. Subsequently, the Ag was transported by EOF toward the capture zone to bind with the immobilized mMB-Ab. Lastly, mMB-Ab:Ag complex was formed and immobilized in the capture zone. A finite volume solver was used to implement the above steps. The surface reaction between the mMB-Ab and Ag was investigated in the presence of electric fields (E): 150 V/cm–450 V/cm and Ag concentrations: 0.001 M–1000 M. The depletion of mMB-Ab increases with time as the E decreases. Furthermore, as the concentration of Ag decreases, the depletion of mMB-Ab increases with time. These results quantify the detection of Ag using the EOF device; thus, signifying its potential for rapid throughput screening of Ag. This platform technology can lead to the development of portable devices for the detection of target cells, pathogens, and biomolecules for testing water systems, biological fluids, and biochemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural habitats are frequently disturbed, and disturbances could have major effects on species in upper trophic levels such as hymenopteran parasitoids that are important for biological control. A strategy for conservation biological control is to provide a diversified agricultural landscape which increases the availability of resources such as sugar required by parasitoid biological control agents. Here, we ask whether parasitoids occurring in agriculture benefit from sugar resources more or less than parasitoids occurring in natural habitats surrounding agricultural fields. We collected parasitoids from agricultural alfalfa fields, field margins, and natural prairies, and in the lab we randomly divided them into two treatments: half were given a constant supply of a sugar source to test their residual lifespan, and half were given neither sugar nor water to test their hardiness. Collected individuals were monitored daily and their day of death recorded. Parasitoids receiving a sugar source lived substantially longer than those without. Parasitoids collected in prairies lived longer than those from alfalfa fields in both the residual lifespan and hardiness treatments, with parasitoids from field margins being intermediate between them. Furthermore, the benefits of a sugar source to increase longevity was lower for parasitoids collected in agriculture than in natural habitats. This suggests that, even though parasitoid biological control agents benefit from sugar resources, their short lifespans make the benefit of sugar resources small compared to parasitoids that occur in natural habitats and have longer lifespans, and are adapted to consistent sugar sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct testing of pesticide contaminants in drinking water is a challenge. Portable and sensitive sensor platforms are desirable to test water contaminants directly at farm and consumer levels. In this study, we have demonstrated the feasibility of an electrochemical sensor for the direct detection of paraquat (PQ) in drinking water samples. An immunoassay-based sensing platform was fabricated using PQ-specific antibody immobilized on the surface of the electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (rGO) modified screen-printed carbon electrode (rGO-SPCE). Using non-faradaic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as a detection tool, the sensor platform demonstrated a dynamic response for PQ concentration in drinking water ranging from 0.05 ng/mL to 72.9 ng/mL (0.19 to 243.8 nM), with a coefficient of determination (r2) of 0.997 and a limit of detection of 0.05 ng/mL (0.19 nM). Percentage recovery within ±20% error was obtained, and the sensor cross-reactivity test showed a selective response against glyphosate antigen. With the flexibility to use single-frequency EIS and low sample volume, the developed sensor demonstrated testing in water samples directly without any sample pre-processing. This low-volume electroanalytical sensor platforms can be translated into portable testing tools for the detection of various water contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of heat exchangers in the pressurized water test loop is a critical factor in ensuring the achievement of irradiation parameters for fuel assemblies and the safety of experimental operations. The effect of the heat exchange area margin on the heat exchangers in the pressurized water test loop for the fuel assembly during the steady-state irradiation is analyzed. Additionally, optimization methods for determining the margin of heat exchange area and corresponding design strategies are further investigated. It shows that the effect of the heat exchange area margin on the heat exchange power is less affected by the inlet temperature of the primary water and is primarily influenced by the flow rate of the primary water. A decrease in the flow rate of the primary water reduces the compensatory effect of the cooling section on power and enhances the weakening effect of the regeneration section on power. Meanwhile, the correspondence between the margin of the regeneration section and the cooling section, established based on design conditions, can be applicable when there are changes in the inlet temperature of the primary water, but it is not suitable when there are changes in the flow rate of the primary water. When the flow rate of the primary water decreases, the cooling section margin required to compensate for the decrease in power caused by the regeneration section margin will increase significantly. In addition, short-circuiting the heat exchange tubes in the regeneration section can effectively enhance the heat transfer capability. Furthermore, setting the heat exchange area margins of the regeneration and cooling sections to zero can serve as a termination condition for iterative calculations in the verification of regenerative heat exchangers under off-design conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the anisotropic permeability of rock masses plays an important role in various geoscience and engineering projects. Since hydraulic aperture is difficult to be measured directly, numerical or theoretical methods for calculating directional permeability are usually used for qualitative technical support, rather than quantitative analysis. A semi-theoretical method is proposed in this study to estimate the directional relationship based on average permeability, where the latter can be obtained through a relatively cheap single-borehole water pressure tests. In this method, hydraulic aperture is replaced by aperture ratio, which can be quickly determined through field investigation by experienced geologists. Compared to adopting multiple-borehole water pressure tests to determining the anisotropic permeability, the new developed method can significantly reduce the testing cost. Numerical experiments are conducted and validated our method, the results show that the mean error rates are generally below 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of laboratory tests of water hammer phenomenon induced in two series-connected copper pipes with different diameters (a diameter ratio of 1:1.25) by a quick-closing valve installed at the end of the simple upstream tank–pipeline–valve system. Test results were compared with calculations made with the use of various friction loss models incorporated in a one-dimensional model based on a method of characteristics. The calculation takes into consideration quasi-steady and unsteady friction models as well as a special discretization procedure of the solution domain that ensures the elimination of numerical diffusion in the numerical scheme. The main attention was paid to determining the value of the pressure wave speed in the pipes, which has a significant influence on the compliance between the calculations and the experimental results of the pressure amplitudes and wave frequencies. Two methods of determining the wave speed were proposed and evaluated based on the measurements. The results presented in this article indicate that the use of the proposed procedure instead of the classic formulas for determining the pressure wave speed gives the desired correspondence between the frequencies of the measured and calculated waves. Calculation examples made with the use of different friction models showed that application of the developed procedure for discretization of the solution domain and the method used for determining the wave speed opened the possibility of reliable verification of these models, free of numerical errors and frequency discrepancies between the computational and measured wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wettability of black silicon (BSi) layers fabricated by reactive ion etching (RIE), metal‐assisted chemical etching (MACE), and laser‐induced etching (LIE) techniques is studied. The contact angles of wetting on the samples with deionized water and methylammonium iodide‐based perovskite solutions are determined. It is found that the element composition and the enlargement area factor of BSi layers have a significant effect on their wettability. When tested with water, the RIE and MACE BSi layers exhibit hydrophobic properties, while the LIE BSi layer demonstrates hydrophilic properties due to the SiOx‐rich surface structures. It is also shown that aging leads to a decrease in the water contact angle. Upon exposure to perovskite solution droplets, BSi layers become highly lyophilic. Based on the Wenzel and Cassie–Baxter models, the mechanisms responsible for the wetting states of the fabricated samples are identified. In the results obtained, valuable insights are provided into the potential of using these layers in tandem perovskite/silicon solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the phenomenon of interlayer transport channel swelling caused by the hydration of oxygen-containing functional groups on the GO membrane surface, a moderate heat treatment method was employed to controllably reduce the graphene oxide (GO) membrane and prepare a reduced GO composite nanofiltration membrane (mixed cellulose membrane (MCE)/ethylenediamine (EDA)/reduced GO-X (RGO-X)). The associations of different heat treatment temperatures with the hydrophilicity, interlayer structure, permeability and dye/salt rejection properties of GO membranes were systematically explored. The results indicated that the oxygen-containing groups of the GO membrane were partially eliminated after heat treatment, and the hydrophilicity was weakened. This effectively weakened the hydration between the GO membrane and the water molecules and inhibited the swelling of the oxidized graphene membrane. In the dye desalination test, the MCE/EDA/RGO membrane exhibited an ultra-high rejection rate of over 97% for methylene blue (MB) dye molecules. In addition, heat treatment increased the structural defects of the GO membrane and promoted the fast passage of water molecules via the membrane. In pure water flux testing, the water flux of the membrane remained above 46.58 Lm−2h−1bar−1, while the salt rejection rate was relatively low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legionella is the pathogen that causes Legionnaires' disease, an increasingly prevalent and sometimes fatal disease worldwide. In 2021, 97% of cases in Europe were caused by Legionella pneumophila. We present a mathematical model that can be used by public health officials to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of different Legionella monitoring and control strategies to inform government requirements to prevent community-acquired Legionnaires' disease in non-hospital buildings. This simulation model was built using comprehensive data from multiple scientific and field-based sources. It is a tool for estimating the relative economic and human costs of monitoring and control efforts targeting either L. pneumophila or Legionella species and was designed to analyze the potential application of each approach to specific building classes across Italy. The model results consistently showed that targeting L. pneumophila is not only sufficient but preferable in optimizing total cost (direct and economic) for similar human health benefits, even when stress-tested with extreme inputs. This cost–benefit analytical tool allows the user to run different real-life scenarios with a broad range of epidemiological and prevalence assumptions across different geographies in Italy. With appropriate modifications, this tool can be localized and applied to other countries, states, or provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on regulatory challenges facing U.S. mariculture, highlighting the impact of permitting processes on industry growth and environmental protection. Topics include the evolution of shellfish aquaculture permitting since the O'Connell Report, the need for streamlined regulations to foster industry expansion; and the ongoing challenges in balancing regulatory efficiency with environmental concerns.

The article explores the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), its features, applications and advancements that propelled the use of this hydrological modelling tool. Topics discussed include runoff modelling using SWAT, sediment yield modelling, nutrient cycle modelling, and limitations such as the need for extensive input data, simulation of runoff and sediment in certain months, and performance depending on the specific characteristics of the watershed being studied.

This paper investigated the relationships of some physical and mechanical parameters of sediments and a typical clay during a natural dewatering process. Four sediments from different French river dams sampled by the Électricité De France group (EDF group) and a commercial kaolin clay used for comparative purposes were the focus of this study. Continuous dewatering was monitored in a laboratory by quantifying the percentage of water remaining in sediments or clay, drained and evaporated. Undrained shear strength was also assessed during the sediment or clay dewatering process, using the laboratory vane shear test. The samples were controlled along different dimensions during the dewatering process throughout the whole experiment. The results showed a certain interdependence between the physical parameters and the water content (ω), which was normalized by the liquidity limit (ω/LL) over time. This led to sigmoidal and exponential correlations when considering the percentage of water drained. The percentage of water remaining in the sediments or clay was characterized using the normalized water content, leading to exponential and power correlations. Both exponential and linear correlations were perfect for describing the evolution of the percentage of water evaporated. Other correlations were established for variations in void index, dry unit weight/solid unit weight ratio and undrained shear strength during the dewatering process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In response to the dynamic demands of the contemporary business landscape, this study critically examines the pivotal role of ethical leadership in shaping employee's innovative behavior within organizations. Our research delves into the nuanced interplay between ethical leadership, psychological well-being and innovative work behavior. Drawing from the principles of social exchange theory, our study addresses a critical gap in the literature by exploring the mediating role of psychological well-being in the relationship between ethical leadership and employees' innovative work behavior. Design/methodology/approach: In this quantitative research, data were collected from 384 employees and their direct supervisors in Pakistan's IT sector using "Google Forms" through a convenience sampling method facilitated by the "LinkedIn" platform. Additionally, the study applied a two-stage structural equation modeling approach, first to assess the uni-dimensionality, and subsequently, to evaluate the proposed hypotheses. Findings: The research results unveiled a robust and positive impact of ethical leadership on innovative work behavior, operating through both direct and indirect pathways mediated by psychological well-being. Intriguingly, the moderating role of perceived organizational support adds depth to our understanding, revealing nuanced conditions under which ethical leadership influences employees' well-being and, subsequently, their innovative contributions. Practical implications: Beyond theoretical contributions, our study provides practical insights for managers seeking to leverage employees' innovative work behavior for organizational success. By emphasizing ethical leadership as a catalyst, we advocate for its integration into HRM practices. However, recognizing the contextual nature of organizational support, our findings underscore the importance of adaptable leadership strategies to maximize positive outcomes. Originality/value: Grounded in the principles of social exchange theory, this research marks a pioneering effort to shed light on the link between ethical leadership and innovative work behavior through the mediation of psychological well-being. Additionally, this study makes a valuable contribution to the current body of knowledge by investigating the contingent influence of perceived organizational support on the relationship between ethical leadership and employees' psychological well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a commonly used metal ion, iron(II) (Fe2+) ions pose a potential threat to ecosystems and human health. Therefore, it is particularly important to develop analytical techniques for the rapid and accurate detection of Fe2+ ions. However, the development of near-infrared (NIR) luminescence probes with good photostability for Fe2+ ions remain challenging. In this work, we report a novel iridium(III) complex-based luminescence probe for the sensitive and rapid detection of Fe2+ ions in a solution based on an Fe2+-mediated reduction reaction. This probe is capable of sensitively detecting Fe2+ ions with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.26 μM. Furthermore, this probe shows high photostability, and its luminescence remains stable under 365 nm irradiation over a time period of 30 min. To our knowledge, this is first iridium(III) complex-based NIR probe for the detection of Fe2+ ions. We believe that this work provides a new method for the detection of Fe2+ ions and has great potential for future applications in water quality testing and human monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing access to water quality tests in low-income communities is a crucial strategy toward achieving global water equality. Recent studies in the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector underscore the importance of addressing practical concerns in water testing, such as robustness and results communication. In response, we present the WaterScope testing kit; an open-source, validated platform for drinking water quality assessment. It modernises the testing process with the inclusion of a unique cartridge/slider mechanism, machine-learning-enhanced classification and full digitalisation of results. WaterScope's equivalency to conventional methods for quantifying E. coli is established through extensive validation experiments in both laboratory and field environments. This versatile platform provides potential to expand its applications to test other bacteria, perform colorimetric assays, and analyse clinical samples such as blood/urine samples. We anticipate that the system's ease-of-use, portability, affordability, robustness, and digital nature will accelerate progress toward global water equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objective Methods Results Conclusions Although performance rating scales, spiral drawing, water pouring, and accelerometry are commonly used to assess tremor severity, the extent to which their results correlate with impairment in activities of daily living (ADL) remains unclear.The aim was to identify the most effective predictors of ADL in essential tremor (ET).Forty ET patients were examined using The Essential Tremor Rating Assessment Scale (TETRAS), spiral drawing, volume of water spilled, and accelerometric tremor power. Root‐mean‐square error, R2, and F‐test were calculated for models predicting TETRAS ADL subscore.TETRAS Performance Subscale explained the variability in TETRAS ADL with an R2 value of 0.686. Models incorporating spiral rating and accelerometric tremor power (R2 = 0.731) and water spillage volume (R2 = 0.756) were not statistically superior.TETRAS performance subscore predicted nearly 70% ADL impairment in ET patients. Incorporating the spiral rating, accelerometric tremor power, and water pouring test did not enhance ADL estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temu mango (Curcuma manga Val) is a rhizome plant native to Indonesia that contains curcuminoid and flavonoid antioxidant compounds. These compounds are believed to act as UV-light protectors, especially UV B. In this study, we performed a qualitative test of the compound content in temu mango followed by formulation and activity testing of water in oil (w/o) sunscreen lotion of temu mango in vitro. The optimization of the w/o lotion formulation was performed using Design Expert® (DE) software version 9.0.4.1 with the Simplex Lattice Design method. The DE software obtained 13 runs of the w/o lotion formula and continued testing the physical property to determine the optimum formula. The optimum formula of lotion w/o predicted by DE software was tested for physical stability for over 4 weeks; and the SPF test, percent pigmentation, and percent erythema were determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The present results suggested that temu mango extract provided an SPF value at a concentration of 0.3 mg/mL with an SPF value of 16.62. The optimum formula of the lotion w/o were 7% glycerin, 7% cera alba, 5% cetyl alcohol with a value of stickiness of 0.70 ± 0.03 s, spreadability of 13.20 ± 0.83 cm², and viscosity of 95.19 ± 3.06 dPa.s. Referring to the storage results, the optimum formula of w/o lotion from temu mango extract was stable during a month of storage. The w/o lotion in the optimum formula produced an SPF value of 15.06 ± 0.39, % erythema of 10.95%, and percent pigmentation of 10.41%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rheological properties and stability of cement‐based materials determine the technological properties of concrete mixtures and significantly influence concrete properties. Polycarboxylate ether (PCE) and other plasticizing admixtures are widely used in construction practice to plasticize concrete mixtures. Experimental research on the rheological characteristics of cement mortar modified with PCE and air‐entraining admixtures (AIRs) was carried out with a rotation rheometer with coaxial cylinders and water bleeding tests. Herschel–Buckley or modified Bingham models were used to approximate experimental flow curves and assess rheological parameters such as yield stress, plastic viscosity, and shear thinning/thickening index. The rheological test was carried out at 5 and 90 min after mixing the cement mortar. The rheological test established that the modification of cement mortar by PCE in a dosage of 0.2% (in dry material) leads to a decrease in plastic viscosity of 25.0% with a reduction in water demand of 18% for the same workability. Modification of cement mortar by AIR in 0.3% dosage leads to a decrease in yield stress by 37.7% and a decrease in plastic viscosity by 35.4% compared to the control specimen without PCE. The combined modification by PCE and AIR admixtures shows a synergistic effect. It leads to a significant decrease in yield stress of cement mortar by 92.2% and a decrease in plastic viscosity to about 0 Pa·s. In addition, there is a significant coefficient of water bleeding reduction up to 0%, when additional water reduction was carried out in the mixture while maintaining the same workability. The cement mortar, with or without PCE and AIR, exhibited shear‐thinning characteristics for up to 90 min after mixing. The solid, liquid, and gas (air) phases' influence yield stress and plastic viscosity in the analysis mixtures are presented in this paper. It has been established that a modified exponential Mooney dependency can be used to predict the yield stress and plastic viscosity of the modified cement mortar (both plasticized and air‐entrained). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Housing conditions and prior life experiences are known to affect animal behavior and brain regions that regulate important neural and physiological functions, such as memory and stress responses. Stressors of low to moderate intensity can provide an enriched environment and promote cognitive functions. In contrast, exposures of excessive severity and/or duration can lead to maladaptation and distress, altering cognitive functions. Such excessive stressors can thus be used to model pathological conditions and test diverse therapeutic approaches. In this study, we addressed whether inescapable exposure of rats to aversive water environment of the "forced swim test" would interfere with their cognitive performance on the subsequent "water escape" test. The data show that a single exposure to a 15-min forced swim session interferes significantly with the ability to escape the water environment. This is manifested by a significant increase in the latency of diving under the cylinder and a reduction in the proportion of rats capable of completing the test task during the initial session. Additionally, there is a lack of development in diving skills during repeated sessions at 15-minute intervals. These negative effects can persist for at least 2 weeks. The use of the "forced swim" procedure prior to the "water escape" test may, therefore, provide a novel experimental approach to modeling stress-induced cognitive dysfunctions and evaluating the effects of pharmacological agents with potential antidepressant and procognitive properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Plasma copeptin is a relatively new biomarker for evaluation of arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion. The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic performance of copeptin in patients with polyuria‐polydipsia syndrome. Design, Patients and Measurements: This was a prospective study where 88 patients with polyuria‐polydipsia syndrome were evaluated with a water deprivation test (WDT). Weight, urine osmolality, urine specific gravity, and plasma copeptin were collected at baseline, after 8 h, and at termination of the WDT when one of the following had been reached: (i) >3% weight reduction, (ii) urine specific gravity >1.017 or urine osmolality >600 mOsm/kg, or (iii) intolerable adverse symptoms. Results: Of 88 patients (57 women), 21 (24%) were diagnosed with central diabetes insipidus (cDI), 5 (6%) with nephrogenic DI (nDI), and 62 (71%) with primary polydipsia (PP). Median (interquartile range) copeptin at baseline was 1.7 (1.4–2.5) pmol/L in cDI, 22 (18–65) pmol/L in nDI, and 2.7 (2–4) pmol/L in PP. After 8 h of WDT, the highest copeptin in patients with cDI was 4.0 pmol/L. In patients with PP: (i) 41 had urine osmolality <600 mOsm/kg, 7 (17%) of these had copeptin >4.0 pmol/L, (ii) 21 had urine osmolality ≥600 mOsm/kg, 14 (67%) of these had copeptin >4.0 pmol/L. Conclusions: Copeptin >4.0 pmol/L after an overnight WDT can be used to rule out cDI and copeptin ≥21 pmol/L at baseline to diagnose nDI. The diagnostic performance of copeptin in the context of the WDT is otherwise limited in the diagnostic work‐up of patients with polyuria‐polydipsia syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WTP Rozgrund, which was used to treat to the water from Rozgrund reservoir, must have been set out of operation due to the deteriorated quality of the water and its smell. The aAim of this work was to perform the pilot-plant tests, with the goal ofaiming to treating water from the reservoir to achieveand get the compliantying water quality of the water. Conventional water treatment concerning coagulation, flocculation, and filtration with two different filtration fillings – Filtralite Mono-MultiFine and filter sand with black-coal material Carboziar – was compared with conventional treatments with filter sand and Carboziar complemented with filtration through granulated active coal (Norit 830), the ultrafilration using fully automated equipment with membrane module UA-640 (Microdyn-Nadir), and ultrafiltration combined with active granulated carbon. Monitored wereas the pH, turbidity, color, alkalinity, CODMn, TOC, aluminum, number and size of particles, and hydrobiology in the samples of raw and treated water. Obtained results provided that the two most suitable treatment technologies were the filtration with double layer filling consisting of sand and antracite combined with filtration via GAU (removal efficiency of CODMn and turbidity was 90.5% and 85%, respectively) and the ultrafiltration combined with GAU (82.6% for CODMn and 89% for turbidity removal). Biological activation after the treatment was not found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many Gram-negative bacteria other than Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been implicated in waterborne outbreaks, but standardized laboratory detection methods for these organisms have not been established. This study aimed to establish laboratory testing methodologies for six waterborne pathogens: Acinetobacter spp., Burkholderia spp., Cupriavidus spp., Delftia acidovorans , Elizabethkingia spp. and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Water samples were spiked by UK Health Security Agency laboratories and sent to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary laboratory for analysis. Water samples were spiked with either a pure culture of target organism or the target organism in water containing normal background flora, to ensure that the methodology could identify organisms from a mixed culture. Volumes of 100 mL were filtered under negative pressure on to culture media and incubated at 30 °C and 37 °C. The incubation time was 7 days, with plates read on days 2, 5 and 7. Further identification of colonies was undertaken using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Optimal recovery of organisms was obtained by culturing water samples on tryptic soy agar, chocolate bacitracin agar and pseudomonas selective agar. The optimal temperature for isolation was 30 °C. The optimal incubation time was 5 days, and MALDI-TOF MS identified all test species reliably. The methodology described was able to detect the six tested waterborne pathogens reliably, and can be utilized by laboratories involved in testing water samples during outbreak investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]